A.J. Bouye is not expected to the get the franchise tag

The Houston Texans will not franchise tag soon-to-be free agent cornerback A.J. Bouye, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter. However, there is a possibility that Houston will re-sign him.

“We want A.J. Bouye back,” head coach Bill O’Brien said after the season. “I would tell you that just in talking to people around the league that I really trust that I think he’s viewed as a top corner.”

Bouye told the Houston Chronicle that he would like to return, as well.

“I’ve been through a lot here with the organization, a lot of ups and downs, and they never gave up on me. I’m appreciative of that. I’d like to be back, but we’ll see what happens.”

Bouye may not be a household name, but he went from Houston’s No. 4 cornerback to starter after a series of injuries to the Texans’ defensive backfield. Bouye impressed as the top cornerback on Houston’s defense.

Kareem Jackson, Kevin Johnson, and Johnathan Joseph all suffered injuries, giving Bouye a career-high 11 starts in 2016. The 25-year-old racked up 63 tackles, one interception, one sack, and 16 pass deflections in the regular season and two interceptions, six passes defensed, and one forced fumble in the playoffs.

Bouye signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent in 2013. In four seasons with the Texans, the young cornerback recorded 140 tackles, six interceptions, and 32 pass deflections.

Houston had the top-ranked defense in 2016, and Bouye was one of the reasons why. Indeed, the Texans have one of the best front sevens in the NFL, but its secondary is solid as well. Houston only surrounded 20 touchdown passes last season, and it had the league’s second-best passing defense.

Bouye made a huge play in the AFC Divisional round against the New England Patriots. Down 14-3 early in the second quarter, Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw an interception to Bouye, and he returned it for 7 yards.

Brady threw a short pass to receiver Michael Floyd, who ran a slant route. But the ball bounced off Floyd’s hands, and Bouye caught it.

The Texans will probably re-sign Bouye to a long-term deal. After all, he played well last season and didn’t surrender big plays. The only question surrounding the young defensive back is whether he can play at a high level consistently. If Houston or other teams thinks so, Bouye head into next season with a lucrative contract.